Min Hee-jin, former chief executive officer of South Korean record label ADOR, has publicly proposed a sweeping legal truce with HYBE, offering to forgo a court-ordered payout of KRW25.6 billion ($17.7 million) if the company drops all lawsuits involving her and the K-pop girl group NewJeans.
The proposal was delivered during a tightly controlled six-minute press conference in Jongno District, central Seoul, held just days after Min secured a court victory against HYBE.
Short appearance frames proposal to end legal disputes
The brevity of the appearance – with no questions taken – accentuates the calculated nature of what appeared to be a direct bid to halt an expanding web of litigation.
“The reason I stand here today is to say that I have decided to exchange the 25.6 billion won […] for another value,” Min said, reading from a prepared statement.
“Because there is something that I desire far more than this great sum of money, I called this press conference to make a meaningful proposal to HYBE.”
Min demanded that HYBE withdraw all ongoing legal actions involving herself, NewJeans members, ADOR employees and former external partners, presenting the offer as an industry-level reset rather than a personal concession.
“I hope this decision to exchange the 25.6 billion won for another value will impact the overall development of and unity within the K-pop industry,” she said.
She also issued a direct appeal to HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk, saying, “I say this to HYBE and Chairman Bang Si-hyuk – let us meet through our work, through music and creation,” a report from the Korea JoongAng Daily quoted.
Min left immediately after her statement, drawing criticism from reporters over the lack of a Q&A session.
Her legal representative, Kim Sun-woong of Ji-Am, who had spoken at an earlier press conference, was present but also exited shortly after.
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Legal pressure mounts on both sides
On February 12, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in Min’s favour in a dispute over a shareholders’ agreement, effectively ordering HYBE to pay her up to KRW25.6 billion in put option proceeds.
HYBE has since appealed the ruling and obtained a stay of enforcement.
The legal conflict extends beyond that case.
HYBE subsidiaries Belift Lab and Source Music have filed damages suits against Min, while HYBE itself recently launched a separate KRW43.1 billion ($29.8 billion) lawsuit involving Min, former NewJeans member Danielle Marsh and a member of her family.
Wednesday’s event marked Min’s third press conference since her high-profile fallout with HYBE erupted last year and her first since launching her new label, ooak records.
The proposal now places the burden of response squarely on HYBE – forcing the company to choose between continuing an aggressive legal campaign or accepting a high-profile settlement that could draw a line under one of K-pop’s most contentious corporate feuds.
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Shameeka Voyiya 
Lucia Caporalini